Kevin Gregg

Kevin Gregg
Gregg with the Chicago Cubs in 2009
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1978-06-20) June 20, 1978 Corvallis, Oregon
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 9, 2003 for the Anaheim Angels
Career statistics (through 2013 season)
Win–loss record	30–44
Earned run average	4.07
Strikeouts	641
Saves	177
Teams
Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2003–2006) Florida Marlins (2007–2008) Chicago Cubs (2009) Toronto Blue Jays (2010) Baltimore Orioles (2011–2012) Chicago Cubs (2013)

Kevin Marschall Gregg (born June 20, 1978) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

High school career

Gregg attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon, and starred in football, basketball, and baseball.

Professional career

Gregg was drafted in the 15th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft (435th overall) by the Oakland Athletics. He spent several years in the A's minor league system as a starter up until 2002. On October 15, 2002, he was granted free agency and signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Angels on November 20, 2002.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2003-2006)

Gregg made his major league debut with the Angels on August 9, 2003. Gregg spent his next three seasons with the Angels as a spot-starter and a middle reliever. The Angels depth made Gregg expendable and on November 20, 2006, he found himself being dealt to the Florida Marlins for Chris Resop.

Gregg pitching for the Florida Marlins in 2008.

Florida Marlins (2007-2008)

Gregg began the 2007 spring training competing for the closer role for the Marlins. By the time spring training was completed, he had been relegated back to a middle reliever role after the team made a trade to bring in Jorge Julio.

Gregg took over the closer role for the Marlins after the team went through a couple of options in Julio, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies in mid-May, and Henry Owens, who lost the job after landing on the disabled list in mid-May. Gregg finished the 2007 season with 32 saves in 36 save opportunities with 3.54 ERA, leaving him tied for the 8th most saves in the National League despite not being the closer for the first month and a half.

Gregg continued in the closer role in 2008. As of August 31, 2008, Gregg was 6-8 with a 3.79 ERA, and 29 saves in 38 chances.^[1] On August 30, it was reported that Gregg would be out indefinitely with a left knee injury that had reportedly been bothering him for quite some time. Upon his return, he was used mostly in middle relief. In 2008 he tied for the major league lead in blown saves, with 9, and tied for second in losses in relief, with 8.

On November 13, 2008, Gregg was traded to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher José Ceda.^[2]

Chicago Cubs (2009)

Gregg competed with Carlos Mármol for the position of closer during the 2009 Spring Training. On March 29, 2009, manager Lou Piniella announced that Gregg had won the closer position and Marmol would serve as set-up pitcher.^[3]

In August, after blowing three of his last five save chances, Piniella announced on August 18 that Marmol would replace Gregg as closer. Gregg became a set-up man for Marmol.

Toronto Blue Jays (2010)

On February 5, 2010, Gregg signed a 1 year, $2.75 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays with team options for future years.^[4] After signing with the Jays, Gregg, Scott Downs and Jason Frasor were all under consideration for the closer role. Frasor started out the season as the closer, but by mid-April Gregg had taken over as the closer and went on to have a career year. The Blue Jays declined their team options for 2011 and 2012 making Gregg a free agent.^[5]

Baltimore Orioles (2011-2012)

On January 5, 2011, Gregg agreed to a 2 year, $10 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles with team options for future years.^[6]

On July 8, 2011, when trailing the Boston Red Sox by seven runs in the eighth inning, Gregg threw three consecutive inside pitches to designated hitter David Ortiz. Ortiz took exception after the third pitch, accusing Gregg of trying to hit him with a pitch, leading to home plate umpire Mike Estabrook warning both benches. On the next pitch, Ortiz swung at a fastball strike, sending a shallow fly into left-center field. As the ball was in the air, Gregg shouted at Ortiz, and was ejected by Estabrook. Ortiz then charged Gregg, who had taken a couple steps off the mound towards home plate. The two began to fight and, after Adam Jones caught the ball in play, both benches cleared. Gregg and Ortiz were ejected. ^[7] Gregg was unapologetic about the incident, saying that the Red Sox "think they're better than everyone else."^[8] On July 14, Major League Baseball suspended Gregg and Ortiz for four games each for their roles in inciting the brawl.^[9]

Late in 2011, Gregg's closer role was gradually taken over by Jim Johnson.

On September 11, 2012, the Orioles designated Gregg for assignment saying that he wasn't pitching enough to be effective when he did.^[10] On September 14, he was released.^[11]

Los Angeles Dodgers (2013)

On February 10, 2013, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that included an invitation to spring training. He did not make the Major League roster and the Dodgers granted him his release on April 3.

Second stint with the Chicago Cubs (2013)

Gregg signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on April 14, 2013. ^[12] Gregg was called up to the majors in late April and has gone 16/18 in save opportunities and posted a 2-1 record since then and was named closer by Cubs manager Dale Sveum.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Minor League Splits and Situational Stats